Picture frame

ABSTRACT

A device for holding and displaying an article, such as a photograph, comprising a concave front member having a window therein, and, a convex back member having attachment means operatively arranged to releasably secure the device to an external wall, wherein the front and back members are secured to one another to form an envelope for holding and displaying the article, and to form a slot for insertion and removal of the article, wherein the envelope comprises the slot. The device resembles a curved POLAROID® photograph in appearance.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention broadly relates to picture frames, more specifically to apicture frame that resembles a POLAROID® photograph in appearance, yetaccommodates interchangeability of the photo being displayed, can bepersonalized with a dry erase marker, and is operatively arranged to bereleasably secured to a corkboard or similar article.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of picture frames to display photos is well known. Various typesof picture frames are made from a variety of materials. The framehousing often includes a decorative front surface, which a user choosesbased on her personal preference for its particular aesthetic quality.The use of borders around pictures is also well known. In the early1970's, The Polaroid Corporation publicly introduced an instant camerathat produced the well-known POLAROID® photograph. The SX-70 camerarevolutionized photography by offering the public a camera that foldsflat and produced photographs instantly, with the familiar “POLAROID®border” around the image. The POLAROID® instant camera allowed the userto take a picture of a desired object or event (e.g., family, friends,graduation, wedding, etc.), and receive a photo of the object justtaken, developed completely outside of the camera within minutes. Theuser would no longer have to wait until a number of film exposures wereused or take film to a film developing shop to be developed in order tosee an event captured in time. The exciting experience of the well-knownPOLAROID® photograph was that the user would grasp the undevelopedphotograph by a wide white border, as it exited the camera. The userwould shake the photo back and forth anxiously with anticipation,watching the photo develop right before her eyes. The early models ofthe SX-70 used Type 48 film, which would produce photographs that wouldexit the camera with a curled up profile or develop a curved shape overa period of time. The Polaroid Corporation provided a set ofsticky-backed self-adhesive mounting cards for the user to place on thebackside of the photo to keep the photo flat. Upgrades of the Type 48film produced photographs without the need for an optional backing Thewell known white borders provided the user with a photo with an instantframe that surrounded the image and an area to personalize her or herphoto by writing a complementary message on the wide white border belowthe photograph. The border around the POLAROID® photograph also providedthe user with a place to pierce and secure the photo with a thumbtack orpush pin to a vertical surface without damaging the image. The unique“POLAROID® borders” are still popular today. Unfortunately, The PolaroidCorporation discontinued production on all instant film.

Thus, there is a long felt need for a device that is adapted to hold anddisplay pictures such that the pictures are easily viewable. There is afurther long-felt need for a wall mountable picture frame that resemblesa POLAROID® photograph in appearance, yet accommodatesinterchangeability of the photo being displayed, can be personalizedwith a dry erase marker, and is operatively arranged to be releasablysecured to a corkboard or similar article.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention broadly comprises a device for holding anddisplaying an article, such as a photograph, comprising a concave frontmember having a window therein, and, a convex back member havingattachment means operatively arranged to releasably secure the device toan external wall, wherein the front and back members are secured to oneanother to form an envelope for holding and displaying the article, andto form a slot for insertion and removal of the article, wherein theenvelope comprises the slot.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a photo framethat resembles a curved POLAROID® photograph in appearance, and yetaffords interchangeability of the photo or article being held anddisplayed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a displaydevice for a photograph that includes a frame capable of displaying “dryerase” printed indicia so as to resemble the appearance andfunctionality of a well-known POLAROID® photograph.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will bereadily appreciable from the following description of preferredembodiments of the invention and from the accompanying drawings andclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now bemore fully described in the following detailed description of theinvention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention shown in FIG. 1 illustrating an article being removed from thedevice;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating a new article beingdisplayed in the device;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a bottom cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the presentinvention taken generally along line 6-6 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a detail of area 9 shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the presentinvention taken generally along line 10-10 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 a is a rear perspective view of a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 b is a side cross-sectional view taken generally along line 11b-11 b of FIG. 11 a;

FIG. 12 a is a rear perspective view of a third embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 12 b is a side cross-sectional view taken generally along line 12b-12 b of FIG. 12 a;

FIG. 13 a is a rear perspective view of a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 13 b is a side cross-sectional view taken generally along line 13b-13 b of FIG. 13 a;

FIG. 14 a is a front perspective view of a fifth embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 14 b is a front perspective view of a sixth embodiment of thepresent invention; and,

FIG. 14 c is a front perspective view of a seventh embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers ondifferent drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar,structural elements of the invention. While the present invention isdescribed with respect to what is presently considered to be thepreferred aspects, it is to be understood that the invention as claimedis not limited to the disclosed aspects.

Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to theparticular methodology, materials and modifications described and, assuch, may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminologyused herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only,and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, whichis limited only by the appended claims.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. It should be appreciated thatthe term “arcuate” is synonymous with terms such as “curved”, “arched”,“bowed”, “rounded”, etc., and such terms may be used interchangeably asappearing in the specification and claims. It should also be appreciatedthat the term “substantially” is synonymous with terms such as “nearly”,“very nearly about”, “approximately”, “around”, “bordering on”, “closeto”, “essentially”, “in the neighborhood of”, in the vicinity of, etc.,and such terms may be used interchangeably as appearing in thespecification and claims. Although any methods, devices or materialssimilar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in thepractice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices,and materials are now described.

Adverting now to the figures, FIG. 1 illustrates device 10 for holdingand displaying article 13. Device 10 comprises concave front member 11having window 14 therein, and convex back member 21 having a means toattach device 10 to vertical surface 38, such as a wall. Front member 11and back member 21 are secured to one another to form slot 12, firstside channel 23, second side channel 24 and bottom channel 25. Thechannels are operatively arranged to cooperatively hold and display thearticle within the window.

Front member 11 comprises four border elements including top borderelement 15, first side border element 16, second side border element 18and bottom border element 19 which together form window 14.Specifically, top border element 15, first side border element 16,second side border element 18 have approximately the same widthdimensions. More specifically, bottom border element 19 is wider thanthe remaining border elements. Even more specifically, in a preferredembodiment, bottom border element 19 is wider than the width of theremaining border elements, and, in one embodiment, is at least threetimes the width of the remaining border elements. It should beappreciated that the configuration of the border elements are arrangedto visibly resemble the appearance and functionality of a well-knownPOLAROID® photograph. FIG. 1 illustrates article 13 as a photographhaving an image of “a dog” and complementary dry erasable indicia 26displayed at bottom border element 19 illustrated as “SADIE” (the nameof the dog shown in the photograph).

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention shown in FIG. 1 illustrating an article being removed fromdevice 10. In the present embodiment, concave front member 11 and convexback member 21 are secured to one another to form envelope 20. As shownin FIG. 2, the user is removing article 13, having an image of “a dog”,from envelope 20 of device 10 by which article 13 passes through slot12. In the present embodiment, it should be understood that article 13is a substantially planar item, albeit flexible, such as for example, apictorial item, photograph, and the like. Article 13 should besufficiently flexible to conform to the arcuate shaped envelope 20formed between front member 11 and back member 21. It should beappreciated that article 13 can be interchanged in the device with a newarticle, in particularly, it is advantageous for the user to interchangearticles and to personalize device 10 with a dry erasable indicia usinga dry erase marker to complement a particular photograph.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating new article 13 a beingheld in device 10 and displayed in window 14. New article 13 a is aphotograph having an image of “a family member” (Uncle Gerry) which isdisplayed in window 14. Using dry erase marker 27, complementary dryerasable indicia 26 a is shown being written at bottom border element 19starting to illustrate the words “UNCLE GERRY”. Dry erasable indicia 26illustrated as “SADIE”, complementary to article 13 having an image of“a dog” illustrated in FIG. 2, was erased. It should be appreciated thata plurality of messages can be used by associating a particular messagewith a particular photograph. For example, a user might choose todisplay a photo of a beach in the device and print the name of the beachor a word describing such location at bottom border element 19. Itshould also be appreciated that dry erase printed indicia may be printedanywhere on device 10. However, a preferred location to print indicia isbottom border element 19. Bottom border element 19 provides an easilyviewable area to complement the article displayed in the window.

The device for holding and displaying an article, hereinafter referredto as device 10 may be made of any suitable substantially rigidmaterial, for example, plastic. In a preferred embodiment, device 10 ismade of ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic. ABS plastic is acommon thermoplastic used to make light, rigid, molded products. ABSplastic is preferred for its mechanical toughness, good dimensionalstability and ease of fabrication. More specifically, device 10 is madeof high gloss ABS plastic. High gloss ABS plastic is inherently dryerase enabled. It should be appreciated, however, that the device may bemade of any material capable of receiving and displaying indicia made bya dry erase marker, or a similar writing instrument.

Specifically, device 10 is made of an opaque material. Morespecifically, in a preferred embodiment, the opaque material is white incolor to boldly display printed indicia and visibly resemble theappearance and functionality of a well-known POLAROID® photograph. Itshould be appreciated that other colors are possible, and are intendedto be within the scope of the appended claims.

A front view of an embodiment of this invention is shown in FIG. 4.Device 10 comprises concave front member 11 including window 14. Frontmember 11 and a back member are secured to one another to form envelope20. Envelope 20 includes slot 12, and comprises first side channel 23,second side channel 24 and bottom channel 25. The channels areoperatively arranged to cooperatively hold and display the articlewithin window 14. Additionally, front member 11 comprises four borderelements including top border element 15, first side border element 16,second side border element 18 and bottom border element 19, whichtogether form window 14.

FIG. 5 illustrates a rear perspective view of an embodiment of thepresent invention. Device 10 comprises convex back member 21 havingattachment means 7 comprising plurality of arcuate teeth 31 (firstarcuate tooth 32, second arcuate tooth 33, third arcuate tooth 34)protruding upwardly from back member 21 to form substantiallycylindrical recess 30. Each arcuate tooth comprises inwardly facingannular ridge 36 operatively arranged to cooperatively hold a tackwithin attachment means 7. In one embodiment, the back member may alsoinclude disc 35 against which the head of the tack is engaged whenentrapped by annular ridge 36. Disc 35 is arranged within substantiallycylindrical recess 30 and disposed in back member 21. While theattachment means of this invention may be located anywhere throughoutthe back member, a preferred location is centrally arranged in the backmember. In a preferred embodiment, plurality of arcuate teeth 31 may beincluded having a gap between each pair of adjacent arcuate teeth 31,such as to reduce the force necessary to snap the tack and the devicetogether.

FIG. 6 is a bottom cross-sectional view taken generally along line 6-6of FIG. 7. The present embodiment comprises the device having concavefront member 11 and convex back member 21, which are secured to oneanother to form envelope 20. Envelope 20 comprises first side channel23, second side channel 24 and a bottom channel. The channels areoperatively arranged to hold and display an article in a substantivelyhorizontal manner within the window. Specifically, the channels areoperatively arranged to guide the article while being inserted into andremoved from device 10. This arrangement of the channels keeps thearticle, which can be a photograph, from being damaged while beinginserted and removed from the device. Additionally, front member 11comprises four border elements including a top border element, firstside border element 16, second side border element 18 and bottom borderelement 19. The device includes back member 21 having attachment means 7comprising a plurality of arcuate teeth 31 protruding upwardly from backmember 21 to form substantially cylindrical recess 30. Specifically,front member 11 and back member 21 are secured to one another usingsonic weld. It should be understood that each of the embodiments of thepresent invention may be secured together by a variety of securing meanssuch as for example, applied adhesive, epoxy resin, glue, and the like.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the present embodiment, illustrating device 10having the shape of arc 44. Specifically, front member 11 has a concaveshape, i.e., is curved inwardly with respect to axis b-b′. Back member21 has a convex shape, i.e., is curved outwardly with respect to axisa-a′. The arcuate shape is particularly advantageous by providing theuser access to the attachment means on the device to make positionaladjustments on the vertical surface. Specifically, an arcuate shapeallows the device to easily be removably attached and secured to avertical surface, such as a wall, corkboard, a door, and the like. Forexample, when removing or repositioning the device away from a verticalsurface, an applied force may be directed toward the middle of backmember 21 of device 10 and away from the outer edges of the device.Access to the middle of back member 21 of device 10 allows the device tobe separated from the vertical surface without damaging the device orthe vertical surface. Additionally, arcuate shaped device 10 visiblyresembles the appearance and functionality of a well-known POLAROID®photograph.

In the present embodiment, FIG. 8 shows height H of arc 44, which is thedistance from the device's first endpoint 48 or the device's secondendpoint 49 to the highest point on back member 21 of device 10. Width Wof arc 44 is the distance from first endpoint 48 of device 10 to secondendpoint 49. Specifically, angle of convexity (Ψ) is in the range ofabout 50 to about 65 degrees. More specifically, angle of concavity (Φ)is in the range of about 50 to about 65 degrees. It should be understoodthat angle of convexity (Ψ) and angle of concavity (Φ) are equal. In apreferred embodiment, angle of convexity (Ψ) and angle of concavity (Φ)are about 54 degrees. Angle of convexity (Ψ) and angle of concavity (Φ)can be obtained by first determining radius R of arc 44. The height andthe width of the arc must be known in order to calculate radius R of arc44. The controlling equation to determine the radius of an arc is:

R=H/2+W ²/8H

Where:

R=Radius of the arc

H=Height of the arc

W=Width of the arc

FIG. 8 illustrates right triangle 17, which is a triangle that includesone right angle. Right triangle 17 is formed between opposite vector 45a, adjacent vector 46 a and hypotenuse vector 47 a. Right angle 47 isformed between opposite vector 45 a and adjacent vector 46 a. Length ofopposite vector L_(45a) is equal to width W of arc 44 divided by two.Length of adjacent vector L_(46a) is equal to height H of arc 44subtracted from radius R of arc 44. Angle (θ) is the tangent angle inright triangle 17. The value for tangent angle (θ) is equal to length ofopposite vector L_(45a) divided by length of adjacent vector L_(46a).

The controlling equation to determine the tangent angle of a righttriangle is:

Tan(θ)=O/A

Where:

Tan (θ)=Tangent Angle

O=opposite side of right triangle

A=adjacent side of right triangle

Angle of convexity (Ψ) and angle of concavity (Φ) are equal to angle (θ)multiplied by two.

FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the presentinvention taken generally along line 10-10 of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a detailof area 9 shown in FIG. 10. Device 10 comprises concave front member 11having window 14 and convex back member 21 having attachment means 7.Front member 11 and back member 21 are secured to one another to formenvelope 20. Envelope 20 comprises a pair of side channels and a bottomchannel 25. Back member 21 includes attachment means 7 which comprises aplurality of arcuate teeth (first arcuate tooth 32, second arcuate tooth33 and a third arcuate tooth) protruding upwardly from back member 21 toform substantially cylindrical recess 30. Device 10 is detachablysecurable to tack 40 via tack head 41 by inserting head 41 of the tackinto cylindrical recess 30 such that head 41 is entrapped by annularridge 36. That is, annular ridge 36 is preferably formed such that itforms an opening, which is slightly smaller than the size of head 41,thereby requiring a user to apply sufficient force to snap or press thehead past the ridge. The tack may include spacer 43 to space the headaway from surface 38 such that the arcuate teeth do not protrude againstor into surface 38 when device 10 is pressed onto tack 40. Device 10 isdetachably securable to vertical surface 38 via tack 40 by insertingpost 42 of the tack into vertical surface 38. Post 42 extends from head41 of tack 40. The head, the spacer and the post of tack 40 may beintegrated into a single piece, or may be separate pieces affixedtogether. In the embodiment shown, tack 40 resembles a pushpin having adisc-shaped head and a ring-shaped spacer, which is arranged on thepost. Back member 21 includes disc 35 against which head 41 of the tackis engaged when entrapped by annular ridge 36. Disc 35 is arrangedwithin substantially cylindrical recess 30 and disposed in back member21.

It should be appreciated that other attachment means can be configuredfrom a variety of well known methods of attachment to a substantiallyvertical surface. For example, as shown in FIG. 11 a and FIG. 11 b,device 50 comprises concave front member 55 and convex back member 51having attachment means 57 including permanent magnet 54 fixedly securedto convex back member 51. Permanent magnet 54 may be removably securedto vertical surface 52 by means of magnetic attraction between themagnet and tack 53 embedded in vertical surface 52, in which the tackcomprises a ferromagnetic material.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12 a and FIG. 12 b, device 60 comprisesconcave front member 65 and convex back member 61 having attachmentmeans 67 including hook fastener 63 fixedly secured to convex backmember 61 and loop fastener 64 secured to vertical surface 62. Device 60may be removably secured to vertical surface 62 by engagement means ofhook and loop fasteners.

In another embodiment, FIG. 13 a and FIG. 13 b illustrate device 70which comprises concave front member 75, convex back member 71 havingattachment means 77 including repositionable adhesive 73 fixedly securedto convex back member 71. Device 70 is removably secured to verticalsurface 72 by engagement means of repositionable adhesive.

While FIGS. 1-13 show the picture holding device comprising a windowthat is substantially square in shape, it should be appreciated that theparticular shape of the borders that form the window may be modifiedwithout departing from the scope of the appended claims. In alternativeembodiments, in accordance with the invention, the window may be anyshape, such as, rectangular, circular, oval, and the like. For example,FIG. 14 a illustrates a perspective view of an alternate embodiment ofpicture holding device 80 which comprises concave front member 81 havingrectangular shaped window 84 and convex back member 87. Front member 81and back member 87 are secured to one another to form the envelope forholding and displaying article 83 in window 84, and to form slot 82 forinsertion and removal of article 83. Front member 81 comprises fourborder elements including top border element 85, first side borderelement 86, second side border element 88 and bottom border element 89,which together form window 84. In another embodiment, FIG. 14 billustrates picture holding device 90 which comprises concave frontmember 91 having oval shaped window 94 and convex back member 97. Frontmember 91 and back member 97 are secured to one another to form theenvelope for holding and displaying article 93 in window 94, and to formslot 92 for insertion and removal of article 93. Front member 91comprises four border elements including top border element 95, firstside border element 96, second side border element 98 and bottom borderelement 99, which together form window 94. In another embodiment, FIG.14 c illustrates picture holding device 10, which comprises concavefront member 101 having circular shaped window 104 and convex backmember 107. Front member 101 and back member 107 are secured to oneanother to form the envelope for holding and displaying article 103 inwindow 104, and to form slot 102 for insertion and removal of article103. Front member 101 comprises four border elements including topborder element 105, first side border element 106, second side borderelement 108 and bottom border element 109, which together form window104.

Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention areefficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to theinvention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill inthe art, which modifications are intended to be within the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed. It also is understood that theforegoing description is illustrative of the present invention andshould not be considered as limiting. Therefore, other embodiments ofthe present invention are possible without departing from the spirit andscope of the present invention.

1. A device for holding and displaying an article, comprising: a concavefront member having a window therein; and, a convex back member havingattachment means operatively arranged to releasably secure said deviceto an external wall; wherein said front and back members are secured toone another to form an envelope for holding and displaying said article,and to form a slot for insertion and removal of said article, whereinsaid envelope comprises said slot.
 2. The device recited in claim 1wherein said attachment means comprises a plurality of arcuate teethprotruding upwardly from said back member to form a substantiallycylindrical recess; and, wherein each of said members comprises aninwardly facing annular ridge operatively arranged to cooperatively holda tack within said attachment means.
 3. The device recited in claim 2wherein said cylindrical recess is centrally arranged in said backmember.
 4. The device recited in claim 2 wherein a disc arranged withinsaid substantially cylindrical recess and disposed in said back member.5. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprisesa permanent magnet fixedly secured to said convex back member.
 6. Thedevice recited in claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprises a hookand loop fastener.
 7. The device recited in claim 1 wherein saidattachment means comprises repositionable adhesive.
 8. The devicerecited in claim 1 wherein said envelope comprises a pair of sidechannels and a bottom channel, wherein said channels are operativelyarranged to cooperatively hold and display said article within saidwindow.
 9. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said front membercomprises four border elements which together form said window.
 10. Thedevice recited in claim 9 wherein at least one of said border elementsis wider than the remaining border elements.
 11. The device recited inclaim 9 wherein said border elements comprise a top border element, twoside border elements, and a bottom border element.
 12. The devicerecited in claim 11 wherein said top border element and said two sideborder elements all have approximately the same width.
 13. The devicerecited in claim 11 wherein the width of said bottom border element isat least three times the width of said top border element.
 14. Thedevice recited in claim 1 wherein both the angle of convexity and theangle of concavity are in the range of about 50 degrees to about 65degrees.
 15. The device recited in claim 14 wherein both the angle ofconvexity and the angle of concavity are approximately 54 degrees. 16.The device recited in claim 1 wherein said device is made of an opaquematerial.
 17. The device recited in claim 16 wherein said device iswhite.
 18. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said device is made ofsubstantially rigid material.
 19. The device recited in claim 18 whereinsaid substantially rigid material is high gloss ABS plastic.
 20. Thedevice recited in claim 1 wherein said window is substantially square inshape.
 21. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said window issubstantially rectangular in shape.
 22. The device recited in claim 1wherein said window is substantially oval in shape.
 23. The devicerecited in claim 1 wherein said window is substantially circular inshape.